the russian headspace: riddles, quizzes, puzzles… quizzles?

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written by Dias Saparov on 3 December 2015 in people
the russian headspace: riddles, quizzes,
puzzles… quizzles?
Who likes solving puzzles or riddles? Let me ask a different question: who doesn't
like teasing their brain? I think the majority of people adore spending time solving
crosswords, small mathematical puzzles, playing sudoku, chess, or watching TV
shows like Jeopardy or somesuch. I like to do that as well. Today I am going to talk
about one very popular game in the post-Soviet space called "What? Where? When?"
and let you enjoy a bit of experience.
what?
Every Sunday I go to the Russian society in London to play something I call the
competitive team riddle solving game. In order to participate you need a team of
maximum 6 people. Usually, there are 6-7 teams competing with each other.
The procedure: One host reads a question, after that teams have exactly one minute
to come up with an answer. Answers are written on a piece of paper and given to
the host by the end of the minute. The goal is to answer as many questions as
possible.
Questions vary in difficulty, and it is not the kind of quiz that just tests knowledge of
random facts. Although, in order to compete, players are expected to have at least a
basic knowledge in many areas, like classical Russian literature (Dostoevsky,
Pushkin, etc.), European literature (Dante, Shakespeare, etc), modern classical and
popular literature (Bradbury, King), ancient mythology, classical art, classical music,
the world cinematography, Russian cinematography, so on and so forth. However,
even if you know every poem of Pushkin by heart, that doesn't guarantee that you
will be able to answer a question related to it. The game is about logic processing
rather than pure knowledge.
But let me stop right here and give you a few examples of questions of different
difficulty. I hope you like it.
Warm-up riddle
"Continue the sequence: love, breath, Rome, estate, column, sense, heaven...".
The answer is: "Wonder"
Commentary: The question is based upon popular sets of expressions: the first
love, the second breath, the third Rome, the fourth estate, the fifth column, the sixth
sense, the seventh heaven, and the eighth wonder
Actual question:
"One BBC program, while describing the Japanese ivy, whose root system is
inaccessible and which year after year grows in Europe causing destruction,
mentions 'it'. In a video game 'it' is capable of simultaneously attacking standing
nearby multiple opponents. Name the 'it'.
The answer is: "Hydra"
Commentary: An ivy root system is hard to destroy as it regrows new sprouts after
they are destroyed, just like Lernaean Hydra. In some computer games, multiheaded Hydras can attack neighbouring opponents.
Actual question:
"In ancient times, brothers were given 'it' as a talisman to prevent them from a
quarrel. In modern days 'it' can be attached to a sponge in order to wash the outer
side of a window. Name the 'it'?"
The answer is: "Magnet"
Commentary: Magnets were the symbol of strong bonding, as they attract each
other. Also, with a help of magnet attached to a sponge, you can wash the outer
side of a window from the inside.
Actual question:
"One 'it' is famous because of 'its' silence. In some cases, there are seven of 'them'.
In a 1977 and a 2006 movie, 'they' possess a very unusual anatomical feature. What
do we mean by 'they'?"
The answer is: "Hill"
Commentary: The question refers to "famous hills": "The Silent Hill" from a popular
video-game series, "the seven hills of Rome", "the seven hills of Moscow", "the
seven hills of Edinburgh", and the movie franchise "The hills have eyes."
And the last riddle:
The question is: what is encrypted in this picture? If you have no clue, let me
rephrase my question, name of which band is hidden in this picture?
The answer is: "AC/DC"
Commentary: AC and DC in the name of the band refer to alternating and direct
currents. Alternating current was is one of the most significant projects of Nicola
Tesla, while Thomas Edison was promoting direct current. You can also remember
the so called "War of Currents". The lightning that separates the two photos is a
reference to the AC/DC logo.
Did you like the questions? Would you like to have more of them? Please share
your opinion with us!
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